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Sunday, January 15, 2012

JUDGE JULIO JIMENEZ

Update: Sorry we did not get this up sooner. There will be a memorial service for Judge Jimenez on Wednesday January 18, 2012 at 12:30 PM at Church of the Little Flower, 2711 Indian Mound Trail, Coral Gables, Fl. Mass will be celebrated.

He was Sy Gaer's law partner, which means he had a connection to the roots of the REGJB. He was a defense attorney, a trial lawyer, a judge, and an all around good guy, and we are sad to report that Julio Jimenez passed away on Sunday. Many of you know he was sick, battling liver cancer. However, Julio Jimenez lived long enough to swear his son in as a member of the Florida Bar this past Friday. There's not much we can add to something as poignant as that.

43 comments:

Anonymous
said...

Judge Jimenez was simply a fabulous man. I had the honor of practicing before him as a PD, and we battled eachother, and then grew to respect eachother. In time, I got to know him personally, and he was simply a great man, great judge, and great father. I'll miss him.

We have the privilege of practicing in a unique but great jurisdiction. Judges like Julio Jimenez and the aforementioned judges who left us too soon are a big part of what makes Miami the best place in the country to be a defense attorney or ASA.

Judge Margarita Esquiroz retired due to cancer. When will a bio chemist team be in the various old Court houses taking samples from the air vents and drinking water. How many current Judges have tumors know or unknown?

When you appeared before him, he was an affable friend and then he addressed you as a judge. Nobody made you feel more welcome in his chambers than Julio. The robe never made him an elitist. I missed him when he left the justice building and will miss him now hat he has left this world.

I went up against Judge Jimenez as an ASA, tried a case with him as a defense attorney and appeared before him as a judge. He was passionate about what he did, but always treated everyone he encountered with dignity and respect. I especially liked him when I was a newbie ASA because even though he zealously fought for his clients, he made it a point not to demean or look down on me, and would offer practice pointers. It was obvious his time with Sy Gaer rubbed off on him--and I say that as a compliment.

As a judge, he was outspoken at times but very fair. He treated everyone with respect. Judge Jimenez will be missed--RIP.

It's not just the judges. Lots of clerks and support staff have also contracted cancers (and many have died young from them) in the past 20 years. Either there are substances in the building that cause cancer or there is unacceptable levels of electromagnetic radiation from accumulated radon gas or from electronic equipment or who knows from what.

Judge Julio Jimenez is an example of what one can accomplish in the years that we are given on this earth. Family man, father, husband, attorney, judge, and a fighter.I know that he fought long enough to see Carlos admitted and has seen his children develop into adults with a great future ahead of them. I have no doubt that Julio's spirit lives in each and every one of them along with his wife. I've had the pleasure of being part of the Jimenez family and Julio has always treated me like a son. I know that I will always keep Julio and his sense of humor close to me. My prayers go out to the Jimenez family. We are all lucky to have known a man like Judge Jimenez.

It is my understanding that there is another long-time jurist battling cancer (I am not using the name out of respect for their privacy) and I have to wonder if the court houses really are toxic. Wasn't that a theory as to the cause of illness and subsequent death of one of the federal judges in the not so distant past? Someone needs to talk to Joel Brown to get some air quality testing done.

Are you saying that there is a death curse on the Spanish male judges in felony court (Manny Crespo, Roberto Pineiro, Julio Jimenez, Henry Leyte-Vidal)? I think it's the normal death rate, not a curse or the food in the Pickle Barrel.

Rob Pinero had a brain anuyerism not related to cancer as near as I kmow. However, I do recall hearing that there was a high level of asbestos at the tine they remodeled the buidling and put in the courtooms on six and seven.

Best part of that PTI/Judge Jimenez post was that the Judge was ofcourse correct and the guy was later acquitted at trial. Miami SAO acted like the Broward SAO there. Love how they gave the high school athlete PTI for statutory rape (which is quite rare) and yet forced the principal to go to trial. That was Jimenez at his best - able to see the BS in certain situations and courageous enough to say it.

Can you read? Do you realize that a wonderful and beloved judge has died? Couldn't you wait another day before your cowardly attacks? Well, maybe you couldn't, but we can. So keep holding that breath until we post your slimly little comment.

julio was a great guy and a fair judge. Most importantly he was a great dad which is more important then being a good judge.

DS, It sounds like you are the one who is upset. Does it make you better because you insult people by using your real name?

Last I checked, Rumpole was blogging from the shadows. Some of us simply prefer to be anonymous. It's not because half of us are assholes but rather, we do not constantly need others to know what we are thinking. Which is just a form of being secure as opposed to insecure.

I follow the "process" of JNC appointments. I regularly question what that committee is doing - much of it seems to make little sense if you compare each of the committee's slate of nominees from one to the next.

Today, they hit a new low. I understand that there may be some statutory requirement that says as soon as the JNC Chair receives a letter from the Governor's Office of an open seat, they must set a schedule and advertise for the open seat.

In the case of Judge Jimenez, they could have waited until the body was buried.

Instead, they issued a Press Release TODAY advertising for the open seat. In fact, I think they handed it out at the 12:30 Mass this afternoon.

I am proud to have known Julio for over twenty years. He was a generous, genuine, smart man who gave me my start in private practice. The support that the family received in the last two days is a testament to his life. He was proud of Carlos, Katia and Lisa. He will be watching over them as they move on with their lives without his presence.

Julio's wife Lili taught me the definition of unconditional love. She was a rock at his side. For those of us that saw her during the last six months she taught us how to be a better husband, wife and partner.

Julio Jimenez defended me back in 1993 and got me a plea deal that let me continue on with my life and become a productive member of the community. I am forever grateful and may he rest in peace. Myself, family and friends truly owe him our gratitude. I am saddened by his passing and wish that we would have the chance to speak before his death. Thank you Julio for the second chance!

I had the honor of trying a case with Julio in 1991. At the time it was the first case in Florida charging a defendant with Trafficking in over 150 Kilos. The presiding Judge was Lenny Glick and the State was Reid Rubin and Rae Shern. After lenghthy dliberations the defenadant was found guilty and sentenced to Life without parole. Fast forward 17 years..Judge Julio Jimenez asks me a favor..to do a request for Commutation of Sentence From the Governor..the sentence was just not fair.. He called the warden of the prison and soon we were speaking to Daniel Sanchez our client. Unbeknowst to us Danny had started the petition..he said he was in the chappel and something had told him to wait..that someone would call him. Three days later, I recieved his clemency package in the mail.Judge Glick and Reid Ruben both wrote letters supporting a commutation of sentence to CTS. I was able to argue for a Commutation in the Capitol Building in front of the Governor and the Cabinet and my petition was granted on the spot. Julio believed in what was just and fair. I will always remember him. He was a great mentor and friend. He gave me my start in private practice.

Thank you Julio..you will be remembered and you will be missed.RIPBob Pardo

Hey Bob.......how about commending Lenny Glick and Reid Rubin for writing letters as well. Not many judges or prosecutors would do that, especially on that kind of charge. Then again, Lenny and Reid were always stand-up guys so I'm not at all surprised that they'd to what they did.

Yes I completely agree. When prosecutors stand up and do what is right they need to recognized for their professionalism. As to Judge Glick, his agreement to write a letter on behalf of the defendant he sentenced to life without parole not only speaks well of Judge Glick, but highlights the awful problem of minimum mandatories and sentences that are not subject to any review. How many more people are in prison who have reformed and who would benefit from a review of their case twenty years later?

Julio was a kind and honest gentleman. I tried my very first case with him in federal court as a defense counsel. He encouraged me then as a young lawyer. Therafter, I became a prosecutor where we were involved in the Harbor case, one of the largest drug prosecutions in SDFL -- 28 defendants & 5 tons of cocaine. He was a pleasure to have on either side -- the voice of reason and gentility. He was always so professional with a great sense of humor. You could always trust him because his word was his bond. A humble man who never lost his common touch even after he became a judge. My most profound sympathies to his family and his dear friend Karl. He will be missed.